The Struie Course takes its name from Struie Hill, a craggy landmark topped by a radio transmitter on the edge of Scotland’s Northwest Highlands. It began life in 1899 as a 12-hole course for ladies, opened by Mrs Louise Carnegie, wife of the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie of nearby Skibo Castle. That course fell into disuse during the First World War and was replaced by a new layout in 1923, three of whose holes (14, 15 and 16) were originally part of the Championship Course itself. Renamed the Struie in the 1990s, it was expanded to a full 18 holes by architect Donald Steel in 1999, with five further holes added by Robert Hiseman in 2003. Today it plays to a par of 71 over 6,265 yards and is ranked among the UK’s best links courses.
I am not the biggest fan of the Struie Crusie. Mainly because my golfing skills are to bad to play some of the tougher holes to my handicap and I am losing lots of balls there. On the other hand: Some of the best pictures on my iphone are from the Struie. When you’re in Dornoch, you should definitely take the time to discover for yourself what this wonderful place has to offer.
